z100 - New York City

October 18, 2004

Cubby: Z100 New York's number 1 hit music station. My name is Paul Cubby" Bryant and ladies and gentlemen in the studio it's Scott Stapp. Welcome, my friend.

Scott: What is up?

Cubby: So nice to have you in the studio

Scott: It's awesome to be here.

Cubby: We've interviewed you like 12 times on the phone.

Scott: I know

Cubby: One time with like a tape recorder at a concert [laughs]

Scott: I know. I remember Romeo and his arm was in a....

Cubby: Yeah, cast

Scott: .....cast or something, yeah. What a beautiful view you got here.

Cubby: Yeah, you like that?

Scott: Yes

Cubby: Here high on top of the Empire State Building, looking over the city

Scott: [laughs] Yeah, man. It's awesome

Cubby: So, what's been going on? I mean, you have just been a little crazy. I mean you had some time off, right?

Scott: Yeah, I took some time off, went to Maui and relaxed and kinda had a couple of callouses on my vocal cords and so I needed to let those heal and took some time off, spent some time with my son, wrote some music, got involved with this Passion of the Christ project ... just gettin' back in the swing of things now man, got an album coming out the beginning of next year and you know just gettin' back in the swing of things

Cubby: And the question that you're hearing, every single interview, but you gotta act like you've never answered it before

Scott: Exactly.....

Cubby: Here we go

Scott: ...shoot

Cubby: Why did Creed break-up and how long had this been happening before it built up to this?

Scott: I think the talk of us moving in different directions started after Human Clay, at the end of the Human Clay tour and we probably pretty much officially, but not announced, went our separate ways in 2002. You know I had been expressing to Mark my interest in film and acting and also some... working with other artists, um, and Mark for a long time, had just been growing and growing as a songwriter and he wanted to branch out and actually front his own band and sing and write you know in the collaboration and actually write all the music and everything himself....and so he went off and did that and I did my thing and here we are.

Cubby: Now, how, burnout...is burnout the right word to use? Because you guys exploded so quickly, I mean....

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: First....

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: ...on the rock side...

Scott: [agrees]

Cubby: ...then you crossed over to top 40

Scott: Right

Cubby: ...on stations like this...

Scott: Right

Cubby: ...and Higher is what got it goin' for ya...

Scott: Right

Cubby: ...you were pulled in every direction, everyone wanted you...

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: ...was there a time when you were just fried?

Scott: Yeah, definitely. I mean physically, mentally, emotionally it was just a...you know it was time to take a break, and a...you know we pushed it so hard that it wasn't until my body just shut down before it was time to stop, you know, it was basically...you know it almost sucked the life out of me.

Cubby: Did you know that it was gonna happen that big for you guys?

Scott: I always believed...

Cubby: ...it was hit after hit after hit

Scott: I believed in my heart, you know, from before we even got a record deal, that we had something special and a...you know, I mean no one could ever tell that it was gonna big as big as it was. But once it started on the first record, to be honest with you, I could kinda get a sense of what....you know on Human Clay and on Weathered, I got a sense of, you know what I thought to put out to the radio stations that the fans would react to, you know. I can't say that I knew until after the records were done..but a.. yeah, you could kinda get a sense after the first album.

Cubby: If you just tuned in, Scott Stapp, formerly of Creed...weird to say formerly...

Scott: It's weird to say it when like, you know, you started the band [laughs]

Cubby: [laughs] Exactly. Well here's my question. Creed broke up, but as far as your concerned, it sounds selfish, does it really matter? 'Cause you are the voice. When I hear you...

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: ....I think Creed, even though the band is gone.

Scott: Well I feel like within me, you know, Creed lives on, you know, I mean, it's a...Creed became bigger then the band, you know it became bigger then any one individual and it's like it became almost an ideology to our fans and you know it.....so it's just gonna carry on with me and you know, so I really feel like everyone out there who loved Creed, I think that it's just gonna be a natural transition over to what I'm doing.

Cubby: Now, now that you're officially solo, is it gonna be harder or easier?

Scott: um...there'll probably be a lot less drama...

Cubby: Right

Scott: ... to deal with, um.. and also it's going to be more fun from the standpoint of a...getting to work with different people and how it effects me as an artist and creatively and you know what it pulls out of me and so, it's gonna be, it's probably.. to be honest with you, it's probably going to be a little easier.

Cubby: How did you get involved with The Passion of the Christ Songs?

Scott: I actually got a call from a gentleman named Mark Joseph and actually Mel Gibson's office. They called and asked if I wanted to come out and see a private screening of the film with Mel and then also if I would consider writing a song after I saw the film and how the film you know, made me feel. I had already been working on a song prior to the film called Relearn Love and didn't have it quite finished yet, and saw the film and it kinda gave me some direction to finish the song up and actually, I kinda changed the direction that the song was going and actually wrote a custom version, so to speak, musically for The Passion of the Christ soundtrack and then the version that you have is going to be on my solo album which comes out next year.

Cubby: Next year?

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: We can't wait that long...

Scott: There's...

Cubby: ...can you push it up?

Scott: ...there's even talk of maybe, you know I'll have to let Alan Meltzer the head of my record company know this before I make this decision here. [Cubby laughs]. There's even talk maybe of you know, maybe releasing Relearn Love as a single with my video and maybe another track on the there just to kind of tide people over 'til my album comes out next year.

Cubby: Yeah I got a lot of emails, people inquiring about the video for Relearn Love

Scott: Yeah that should be, that should be hittin' airwaves pretty soon, you know and you know I hoping that a...you know when I get done traveling around and saying hi to everybody and lettin' people know what's going on and getting back and work on my album and you know maybe it'll come back a little quicker then I think you know, maybe end of January, maybe February but you know you don't want to rush your first, your first thing, but you know, the more I think about it, I've got the material....

Cubby: Right

Scott: ...and a...so it's just a matter of gettin' it done.

Cubby: Do you have too many songs almost? A lot of people have the problem.

Scott: I've got, I've got a lot of songs that aren't finished and so they may merge into songs, so I don't really know yet, but a...

Cubby: Well, I'll tell you what, let's play the new track and then after that you're gonna do something live with my boy Artie here...

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: ..get your guitar player in here, we're gonna do something old.

Scott: Yeah, definitely

Cubby: But when people, and I'm not, and I'm not like trying to brown nose ya here. When people in the business ask me what's you're favorite new song out there, I always mention this song. It's my favorite new song..

Scott: Awesome

Cubby: ...if you haven't heard this ladies and gentlemen, you're gonna love it. This is brand new Scott Stapp, it's called Relearn Love and we're live with Scott here at Z100.

DJ plays Relearn Love

Cubby: [talks when song is still playing] Z100....I talked over you Scott

Scott: Dude, it's all good

Cubby: [laughs] Scott Stapp, formerly of Creed. That's his brand new one called Relearn to Love and new music coming when?

Scott: Hopefully, hopefully as soon as possible, ASAP.

Cubby: But that single will get us through the end of the year.

Scott: Yeah, that song will get us through the end of the year and then hopefully, as fast as I can during the first few months of '05, to be honest with ya, as fast as I can get this record done I'm gonna have it out.

Cubby: So you do that song you were talking about for The Passion of the Christ and ...

Scott: Right

Cubby: ...what feeling did you have after seeing that movie?

Scott: I had a gamut of emotions, man, I mean I was, I was kinda shocked, I felt like it was graphic, I felt just emotionally drained and then on the other hand, understanding and believing the premise behind the film, I felt like I understood what true love is and the ultimate sacrifice, you know and it's giving to someone else without expecting anything in return and so ,you know, felt all those things, I think everyone walked away with a different feeling, you know

Cubby: By the way, why do people ask you all the time hey are you a Christian artist or are you just an artist that's Christian?" Why do people make a big deal about the religion?

Scott: I think they did more so in like '96, '97, '98, but now I think we kinda, Creed, we kinda opened the door for all this talent that was in the Christian community and a ...Creed wasn't a Christian band, um, but people ask all the time and you can be a Christian, and not be a quote, unquote Christian artist, you know what I mean?

Cubby: [agrees]

Scott: ...and I dealt with a lot of spiritual issues in my life on those records but, and I probably will continue to do that as a person of faith but a... you know I don't have any agenda to kinda proselytize or make people believe what I believe, you know, I'm just.. (in a different voice) I'm just a man.

Cubby: Makes sense. Hey I got some emails I have to get to...

Scott: Alright

Cubby: ..people will kill me, 'cause I promised I'd read these and then we'll get to you performing live. Artie is ready, we're gonna do Higher

Scott: Awesome

Cubby: We're gonna do that live. Real quick..Jeannette from Jefferson Township, New Jersey: Do you feel going off on your own has made it easier to express yourself in ways that you may not have been able to while you were part of Creed?

Scott: Definitely, definitely, you know it's opened the door for me to be able to... the pallette in which I get to sing and write melodies and lyrics over is broader, you know I'm gonna be able to play the piano now some and use various other instruments that with, when you're in a democracy like Creed was you know, you may get out voted [laughs] and so you know...

Cubby: You're the one answer now

Scott: ..you know now it's, it's a, I'm still gonna rock, I still love big guitars, as you can hear in what you just played...

Cubby: It sounded great

Scott: ...and a...you know, but you know I'll get a chance to experiment a little bit with other things.

Cubby: Elaine wants to know, and I apologize I didn't see this, what she's asking about - you were in a VH1 movie, 30 Days Until I'm Famous

Scott: Yes

Cubby: And you played the part of is it M C P? Or McP?

Scott: Yes

Cubby: What were you in this movie?

Scott: I was an A&R guy

Cubby: Okay, the guy that kinda signs the artist for a record label

Scott: All I cared about was booty

Cubby: Well, Elaine says you were the best thing in this movie [Scott laughs] and anything else in the works for the near future?

Scott: Ahh... yes. I can't really talk about the details, but that's something I definitely got going on and would love if the stars aligned to have my major film debut happen right along the same time as my album comes out.

Cubby: Scott Stapp is here. Sheryl from Oklahoma City, you know we're on the web...

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: .... so they can listen to us all over the country...

Scott: Yeah

Cubby: What was it like working with The Tea Party and do you think you'll be working with them again?

Scott: It was amazing...

Cubby: What is a Tea Party..by the way

Scott: They are a Canadian band

Cubby: Okay, alright

Scott: They were great guys. Very, very talented musicians and yes, I've written some songs with those guys in mind. They may end up on my record, we'll have to wait and see.

Cubby: Sheila, a devoted Scott Stapp fan, a member of Passionbreedsfollowers

Scott: Yes

Cubby: You heard about that?

Scott: Yes

Cubby: It's a Scott Stapp fan site...

Scott: It is

Cubby: ...wants to know if you'll be playing small venues when you tour next year.

Scott: I have... you know what, I haven't thought that far in advance, um, I definitely think that, you know I'm trying to go around and reconnect right now, um and so that's probably a good idea to start in the smaller venues and kinda reconnect personally and then just see how it goes from there.

Cubby: You mentioned playing the piano and guitar on your solo album. Will you be doing that in concert?

Scott: Yes

Cubby: Piano and everything?

Scott: Piano, yeah.

Cubby: Finally, one last question. Well actually we already addressed this - Relearn Love video - VH1, MTV soon?

Scott: VH1, MTV soon. It actually just went through the final approval processes, I just got through making all my final adjustments [laughs]...

Cubby: Nice

Scott: ....and it should be, it should be ready to roll here in the next few days

Cubby: Well, wanna do some... I see you got the honey, the tea and honey...that means you're ready to sing live

Scott: ...got the tea and honey and I'm ready to sing Higher, you know it's off of Human Clay.

Cubby: Yep

Scott: Creed's Greatest Hits is out middle of next month, some time around mid-November, November 18th.

Cubby: And this is the song that pretty much got you on the map, as far as the pop world goes

Scott: Yeah this got us on your station man...

Cubby: Yep, yep

Scott: ...and this is the station that rules the world

Cubby: Oh, I love you. [Scott laughs] Alright, Scott Stapp, live on Z100 with Artie on the guitar, everybody

Scott: And this is Higher

Scott sings Higher acoustically

Cubby: There ya go, live in studio Scott Stapp. Awesome job, good Lord

Scott: Thank you. We stumbled through that, but that was alright [laughs]

Cubby: No, are you kidding me, I was gonna say it was so good people aren't gonna believe me [Scott laughs] that it's live, people are gonna think it's a CD or something like that.

Scott: Thanks man. It was awesome, it was fun, you gotta have me back man...

Cubby: Your eyes are shut, what are you thinking about?

Scott: I'm thinking about a...making sure that a....

Cubby: That the mixing's right, because I'm controlling the mixing

Scott: Actually I was just thinking I hope I don't mess up.

Cubby: Well you do this a hundred thousand times. I was actually surprised, off the air, when you picked that one, 'cause that's the more like harder edged, tough on the vocals...

Scott: It's cool to play songs that people don't expect acoustic, acoustic, you know to give it a different vibe

Cubby: I just got an email when you were singing. First of all everyone is emailing me going oh my God this sounds amazing". Kim Wright from Lubbock, Texas says you do a rendition of Unchained Melody...

Scott: oooh

Cubby: Is that true?

Scott: ahh...

Cubby: She said I'd love to hear his rendition of Unchained Melody, will he be doing any cover songs on your solo album?"

Scott: You know, I've thought about it, a, but a... I haven't, I don't think I've ever done Unchained Melody.

Cubby: ...she's probably on crack

Scott: Maybe I had had a couple too many at my house one night and broke out on the piano [Cubby laughs as Scott is talking]

Cubby: Well, we appreciate you stopping by. One more time - when can people hear the new solo album?

Scott: ...a...like I said...

Cubby: You don't know, it's still early...

Scott: ...as early as possible, you know some time January, February, March of next year

Cubby: But if you want the new single Relearn Love, pick up The Passion of the Christ Songs...

Scott: Right, exactly.....

Cubby: ...in stores now...

Scott: ....and Creed's Greatest Hits...

Cubby: Oh, that's right Creed's Greatest Hits

Scott: ...the middle of next month

Cubby: Unbelievable man

Scott: ...and a.. you know I'm working on that solo album and it will be out ASAP

Cubby: Hey Artie, nice job on the guitar

Scott: Yeah man

Cubby: Fellow Houstonian there..um..before you leave the most important question of the day...

Scott: Shoot

Cubby: Yankees or Red Sox?

Scott: Yankees

Cubby: [applauds] good man, good man. You'll be in Boston in an hour saying Red Sox

Scott: No, not at all, Actually I was in Boston this morning...

Cubby: Oh how was....

Scott: ....and said Yankees

Cubby: You did?

Scott: Yeah man, I can't go back, my boy David Wells, a good friend of mine used to play on the Yankees...

Cubby: Well there goes your airplay in Boston

Scott: ...and I've a, I've a [laughs] I've been in the locker room, got a chance to take BP at Yankee Stadium...

Cubby: Oh, you took batting practice...

Scott: Yeah and met the players and got chewed out by Joe Torre and a.. all kinds of fun

Cubby: Well Scott, continued success, if not to baseball to music

Scott: Hey man, if you can get me a try out, [Cubby laughs] I'll surprise some people, I swear, scouts honor

Cubby: Scott, you're the best, man. Scott Stapp live on Z100.

.Transcribed by Robyn